If I were to die...

...this family would be in BIG trouble!  I heard Alaina get up this morning. Our little routine has been that Jason gets up with Alaina and hangs out with her until everyone else gets up.  It has been really nice for me to sleep in a bit...7:30 or 8:00 is quite heavenly when I am used to 6:00 and 6:30 for the past few years!  So, I hear them get up this morning.  At about 7:45 I contemplated getting up so I could help get Alaina ready for school.  But then I decided to TRY to go back to sleep because in the past Jason has been really good about getting her all ready and just getting me up right at the end when she needs her hair done.  He has even attempted to do her hair himself but after  my not-as-nice-as-they-could-be comments about the hair, I am usually called out of bed for that one.  In any case, I hear Alaina run into the room shouting something about Dora being on.  Now, Nick Jr doesn't start until 8:00.  And she leaves for school at 8:15...but I see her run in still in jammies and far from ready for school.  So I realize that I did in fact fall back asleep and sat up. 

I said to Jason, "Isn't Alaina getting ready for school?" 

"No," he says, "It's Wednesday."

"Um, no, Jason...it's Thursday!  What time is it?"

"Time to leave," he says.

"Well," I said, "I guess she isn't going today.  Can you please call the school?"

Just then, Alaina who had been completely engrossed with Dora pipes in, "I can't call the school!  I don't know how!"

"No, sweetie, DAD will call the school" as I shoot him a look of complete worry wondering what would happen to this family if I weren't around.

Now, let me say that my husband, Jason, IS very helpful.  He does as much with the kids as I do (well, at least proportionately to the amount of time he is here).  If I were to go away for the weekend I wouldn't have to do anything other than kiss them all goodbye.  I wouldn't have to leave notes or instructions or prepare meal ahead of time.  He knows what they need, when they need it, and I feel totally confident in his parenting abilities.  So the above is said in jest.  I am sure that they would all be fine if I were to die.  They may never know what day it is, but there are worse things in life, right?  LOL!

*******

So, some tidbits from our days.  Since I started scrapping, I think I have really learned to appreciate the little moments of our lives. The everyday stuff...the little things they kids say and do.  These are the stories that I think they will want to hear most.  Not that they won't care about what they looked like when they turned three, because I am sure they will, but they will want to know about all the little things that were uniquely them..the little things that made us love them even more.

So now I notice these things more.  And I try to capture them.  I want to remember.  So many people want to rush through the preschool years.  I can't tell you the number of times people have said to me, "Oh, don't worry, the preschool years will be over soon enough and things get better."  Or, "Oh I would NEVER go back to the preschool years!"  I heard that so many times my first year as a mom...when Alaina was a baby and I was pregnant with Caleb.  I heard it so many times that one day when someone at our church started to talk about preschool years and I was ready to just walk away.  And then she said, "I LOVED them!  Sure they were hard at times, but the time goes so fast and those years are so precious...when you have your kids at home all to yourselves.  What a magical time!"  I was floored.  It felt soooo good to hear someone else say that they ENJOYED having little kids.  I mean, I was starting to think I wasn't supposed to enjoy having really little ones.  Since that time, I have felt much better and now just feel bad for those who don't enjoy it.  I know it can be hard, and I know I have a good deal going -- an incredibly helpful husband, good kids, and we have never done the up-all-night thing.  But still, I think some of the enjoyment of it is just not taking life so seriously and just embracing those little personalities and loving on them.  Life at this age is so amazing...so full of wonder and awe.  Every day I am completely amazed at the things my kids do and say...the good AND the bad.  I can look at them for what they are and laugh. 

I know am I totally off on a tangent right now, but bear with me, this is important (well, at least to me and since this is my blog and I can say what I want :) I will just keep talking.) 

Little kids are wonderful.  They are a blessing.  They can open doors and hearts that otherwise remain closed. This is why I believe that dorm parenting with little kids can be a blessing.  Sure, it can be hard at times, but having little ones in the home can be so beneficial.  We had one boy our first year in Malaysia that just never clicked with us.  He missed his old dorm parents and really, he just never gave us a chance.  He walked around with a scowl on his face most of the time and never let us reach out to him.  I will never forget one night, though....we were sitting in the lounge watching television.  Caleb was probably around 10 or 11 months.  I was sitting next to this boy and he was obviously frustrated that my kids were around.  Caleb was crawling on me and desperately wanted this boys attention.  The boy just looked annoyed.  But Caleb kept trying to be with him...to crawl on him, to sit in his lap, to be with him.  And then, slowly but surely, a small smile appeared on the boys face.  He blushed as the smile grew broader.  He was clearly embarrassed that he was ENJOYING Caleb but eventually he gave in and played with Caleb...gave him "5" and let him sit on his lap. See, Caleb, a little kid, broke through when we couldn't.  That boy needed to let down some of the walls of his heart and as much as Jason and I tried, we couldn't do it.  But Caleb did.  Little kids are powerful.  They are amazing.  And they must be something really special if Christ commands us to have a "childlike faith."  I've been mulling over that term for a while now, but I will save that for another day.

So, all that said, I am trying to enjoy the preschool years to their fullest.  I want to enjoy my kids...like now...I just turned around and this is what I saw...Caleb is in a diaper putting on Alaina's pink chapstick.  It is all over his mouth and nose.  Sooo cute!  Alaina is in her jammies (after missing school she declared it a jammie day!) happily watching the Backyardagains (or however you spell it), Levi is "helping" Jason fold laundry and chanting "ma-ma...ma-ma..."  Why would I want to RUSH through these years?  Too precious to miss.

A few pictures to share...just little snippets of yesterday...embracing life as it is...

Caleb and some of his "things." He was happily sitting on the couch with his Elly when Diego came on.  He started shouting something and although none of the words registered, I knew what he wanted.  I went to his room to get his Diego doll and when I brought it to him I was greeted with his wonderful loud, "THANK YOU MAMA!"  Happy as a clam (as my mother would say).

As I mentioned yesterday, the weather report was that it was supposed to be 57.  I think it actually reached 58 here and we enjoyed it!  Jason and the kids took the opportunity to wash the car and enjoy the warm weather.

And then there is little Levi.  Yesterday afternoon I fed him some yogurt. He still was eating some Cheerios and raisins so I left him in his chair while I caught up on some emails (about four feet from him).  Jason and the other kids were in the living room, with a full on view of him.  About ten minutes later I turned around to ask Jason something only to see Levi COVERED in yogurt.  He had finished what was in his bowl so I was a but confused.  It appears as, with all of us just a few feet away from him, he managed to get the yogurt container off of the table, dig his little hands in there, and smear it everywhere.  He also put some of his Cheerios in there!  And don't let the picture fool you...that was NOT one of those little yogurt containers.  This was a full 32 oz "grande" container!  Perfect example of when I could get frustrated and instead, take to heart the mantra: "Don't get mad...take pictures."  So I did.  Sweet little guy!

***

Well, that's all for today!  Jason has to leave for work soon and I have a bunch of stuff planned for the day!  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.  And if you are a mother of a preschooler...take heart.  They are wonderful.  They are a blessing.  They see the world in a whole new way.  They love you, they need you, they want to learn from you.  Love them, embrace them, share the wonder.  The time goes fast...don't miss it.

Comments

[Julie]

Another wonderful post today, Janet. You encouraged my heart about making the most of the pre-school years. I have tried to enjoy every moment of life with my 20-month old, because I know that soon, he won't be this dependent on me.

That yogurt picture is hilarious! I love your phrase, "Don't get mad ... take pictures!"

Enjoy the end of your week!

[Shabby Miss Jenn]

ROFL!!!!! OMG how cuuute!

[HaleyW]

It just occurred to me, as I sat here and read your great blog entry, that I always leave your blog smiling. Whether it is funny stories about your cutie-patooties, or whether you have inspired me to think about something from an entirely differnet point of view, I ALWAYS leave here smiling. So thanks for giving me something to look forward to when I see that you have posted! I'm heading out for the weekend, so have a great one!!

Oh - I did use one of your fab valentine templates yesterday. I posted it at DST. I'll try and shoot you a linkie later!

[MandaKay]

I agree with Haley - you always keep me smiling! Even you downharden thought provoking entries leave me somehow uplifted! Love those pictures girl and again a great reminder to love these times. I am the type that wish them away every day - sorry - I hate to even admit it. I am all hormonal and wacky right now so little things irritate me and in anger I say things I really don't mean. I will try to keep it all in perspective!

[Melanie Kendall]

Your post really connected with me. I have five children and it is so true that those precious preschool years are gone in a blink. Each stage is unique and special and I love seeing them develop as they grow. But I am so sentimental about the baby and toddler years. I am truly trying to appreciate the truths of what you wrote with my youngest two. God is helping me enjoy every day with them. I hang on to their precious little words, their hugs, and the joy of life they embody. Thank you for the wonderful post and reminder of this truth. What a gift these precious lives truly are! I so love that scrapping helps us record the every day little details that our minds would quickly forget. And I appreciate the tools that your templates are to keep up with all those pictures! God bless you...